It’s Time!
The Urgency of Urban Mission Where are we now?
The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to make disciples of Jesus among all people, communicating the everlasting gospel in the context of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14. In many parts of the world, we’ve made significant advances toward that goal. However, for the first time in history, more than half of earth’s population lives in urban areas. By 2050, that number is expected to be 70 percent. Our volume and rate of ministry haven’t kept pace with the global movement towards urbanization. At times, the size and complexity of cities and their perceived negative influence on spiritual life have made some of us hesitant to engage fully in urban mission. Yet, we’re continually reminded that Jesus said,
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“This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14, NKJV). Ellen White wrote in 1912, “God designs that the light of the gospel shall extend to every soul upon the earth. . . . His kingdom will not come until the good tidings of His grace shall have been carried to all the earth.” 1
Where do we want to be?
In September and October 2013, church leaders from around the world met together for the It’s Time: Urban Mission Conference. After several days of reviewing data, discussing ideas, and praying together, they adopted the following vision and goal for special emphasis through the next quinquennium:
The vision
That every city will have an influential Adventist presence actively engaged in a comprehensive mission, using Christ’s method of ministry.
The goal
To engage the collective resources of the global church in establishing a Seventh-day Adventist presence and needsbased ministry in cities of 1 million or more people that have no Adventist congregation and, in all other cities of 1 million or more people, to improve the ratio of members to population.
The church draws its inspiration for mission from the teaching of Jesus. It must also look to Him for its model of ministry. Ellen White writes, “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” 2 Well over a century ago, Ellen White appealed to church leadership to give special attention to the large cities of the world: “The work in the cities is the essential work for this time. When the cities are worked as God would have them, the result will be the setting in operation of a mighty movement such as we have not yet witnessed.” 3
